Indiana's 10 Greatest Athletes

This afternoon, the Brooklyn Nets play the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapols.

Indiana's 10 Greatest Athletes

Remember: This is a listing of athletes for the State's professional teams. College stars (IU, Purdue, Notre Dame) are ineligible. Larry Bird played at Indiana State and was head coach and general manager for the Pacers, but his only pro team was the Boston Celtics, so he counts for Boston/New England, not Indiana. Nor are boxers, who don't play team sports, eligible, thus eliminating Tony Zale.

Honorable Mention to Edd Roush, a native of Oakland City, Indiana, who played for the Indianapolis Hoosiers, winners of the 1914 Federal League Pennant, before going on to a Hall of Fame career as the center fielder for the Cincinnati Reds.

Honorable Mention to Benny Kauff. With the 1914 Hoosiers, he led the FL in batting average, hits, doubles, stolen bases and runs scored. But his major league career, including a National League Pennant with the 1917 New York Giants, was cut short in 1920, under dubious circumstances.

Honorable Mention to Richard Dent, who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but played just 1 season for the Indianapolis Colts, 1996.

Honorable Mention to Andy Phillip and Bob Houbregs, members of the Basketball Hall of Fame, who helped the Fort Wayne Pistons reach back-to-back NBA Finals in 1955 and '56.

Honorable Mention to Gus Johnson, Adrian Dantley, Alex English and Chris Mullin, who each reached the Basketball Hall of Fame, but played 3 seasons or less for the Pacers.

Now, the Top 10:

10. Eric Dickerson, running back, Indianapolis Colts, 1987-91. He only played 4 1/2 seasons in Indy, and his best years came with the Rams, prior to that, in Los Angeles. But it's no coincidence that his arrival at the Hoosier Dome led to the franchise's 1st Playoff berth in 10 years, including after the move.

With the Colts, he rushed for 5,194 yards and 32 touchdowns. He added 138 catches for 1,802 yards and 3 more touchdowns. In 1988, he led the NFL in rushing yards, rushing yards per game, and total yards from scrimmage. He was named to the NFL's 1980s All-Decade Team, the Colts' Ring of Honor, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

9. Marshall Faulk, running back, Indianapolis Colts, 1994-98. As with Dickerson, his best years may have come with the Rams, in his case afterward, in St. Louis. But few running backs have combined running with the ball and catching it as well as he did.

With the Colts, he made 3 Pro Bowls, rushed for 5,320 yards, caught 297 passes for 2,804 yards, and scored 53 touchdowns. The Colts have inducted him into their Ring of Honor, and he's been elected to the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. In 2010, the NFL Network listed him at Number 70 on their list of the 100 Greatest Players.

8. Roger Brown, forward, Indiana Pacers, 1967-75. The Pacers made 5 ABA Finals, and he played in all of them, losing in 1969 and 1975, but winning in 1970, 1972 and 1973. He was a 4-time All-Star, and the Playoffs MVP when the Pacers won the 1970 title.

He never played college ball or in the NBA, because, in 1960, he and fellow Brooklynite Connie Hawkins were caught up in a point-shaving scandal. Neither man was ever proven guilty of anything, but both were banned, and had to play in smaller leagues until the ABA was founded in 1967.

He last played in 1975, and his NBA ban remained in effect. Nevertheless, the Pacers retired his Number 35, and he was named to the Basketball Hall of Fame and the ABA All-Time Team. He later served on the Indianapolis City Council.

7. Mel Daniels, center, Indiana Pacers, 1968-74. Another who played on all 5 Pacer Finalists, he was an All-Star 7 times, and was named Rookie of the Year in 1968 and MVP in 1969 and 1971. The Pacers retired his Number 34, and he was named to the Basketball Hall of Fame and the ABA All-Time Team.

He only played briefly in the NBA, with the New York Nets in the 1st post-merger season, 1976-77. He then became an assistant coach at Indiana State University, on the sideline when Larry Bird took them to the 1979 NCAA Final; and was briefly Pacers head coach in 1988.

6. George McGinnis, forward, Indiana Pacers, 1971-75, returning 1980-82. An All-Star 6 times, 3 in each league, he helped the Pacers win the ABA Championship in 1972 and 1973, and was named Playoff MVP in 1973 and regular-season MVP in 1975. He was named to the Basketball Hall of Fame and the ABA All-Time Team, and the Pacers retired his Number 30. He also made the NBA Finals with the 1977 Philadelphia 76ers.

5. Tamika Catchings, forward, Indiana Fever, 2002-16. Part of Pat Summitt's groundbreaking women's basketball program at the University of Tennessee, where she won the National Championship in 1998, "Meek" is the only Fever player to get her uniform number retired thus far, 24.

A 10-time WNBA All-Star, she was Rookie of the Year in 2002, Defensive Player of the Year 5 times, the regular-season Most Valuable Player in 2011, and Finals MVP when she led the Fever to the 2012 WNBA Championship.

She is the league's all-time leader in regular season steals, Playoff points, Playoff rebounds and Playoff steals. She was named to its 15th and 20th Anniversary All-Time Teams. She has also helped the U.S. women's basketball team win the last 4 Olympic Gold Medals. She is now eligible for the Basketball Hall of Fame.

4. Bobby McDermott, guard, Fort Wayne Pistons, 1941-46. Now forgotten, the Queens native was the best basketball player in the world in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and was considered the game's 1st great long-distance shooter. In 1935, he led the Brooklyn Visitations to the Championship of the old American Basketball League. In 1941, he joined the Pistons in the National Basketball League, and was an All-Star every season.

He led the NBL in scoring in 1943, the 1st of 4 straight MVP seasons. He was player-coach on their 1944 and 1945 NBL Championships. He later served as player-coach of the Chicago American Gears, who won the 1947 NBL title with George Mikan, who then moved on to the Minneapolis Lakers.

He retired as a player in 1950. He was voted the greatest player in NBL history, but he was killed in a car accident in 1963, only 49 years old. His status as a pre-NBA player, and his unavailability to speak on his own behalf, led to his being overlooked for Basketball Hall of Fame election until 1988.

3. Marvin Harrison, receiver, Indianapolis Colts, 1996-2008. The Philadelphian might be 2nd to Jerry Rice among receivers in the NFL's 1st 100 years. Playing only for the Colts, he caught 1,102 passes for 14,580 yards and 128 touchdowns. His 143 catches in 2002 remains an NFL single-season record. True, he had Peyton Manning passing to him, but Manning had other targets as well, including Reggie Wayne.

He made 8 Pro Bowls, and helped the Colts win Super Bowl XLI. He has been named to the Colts' Ring of Honor, the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

2. Reggie Miller, guard, Indiana Pacers, 1987-2005. His sister Tammy was a college volleyball star. His brother Darrell was a major league catcher. And Reggie might not even have been the best basketball player in the family, as his sister Cheryl got into the Basketball Hall of Fame first, due to her record on the U.S. women's Olympic team and at USC -- which must have produced a few discussions, as Reggie went to their arch-rivals, UCLA.

Reggie's rivalry with the New York Knicks is part of his legend, but let's look at the facts. He was a 5-time All-Star, scored over 25,000 points, and got the Pacers into their only NBA Finals to date, in 2000. He also matched Cheryl's 1984 feat by winning an Olympic Gold Medal in 1996.

UCLA and the Pacers both retired his Number 31, and he is in the Hall of Fame. His career probably started a little too late to get him named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary 50 Greatest Players, but, presuming there's a 75th Anniversary 75 Greatest Players named in 2021, he'll be in it.

1. Peyton Manning, quarterback, Indianapolis Colts, 1998-2010. No need to say, "If only he had spent his entire career with the Colts," or even, "If only he hadn't missed the 2011 season due to injury." And, yes, there is a cloud over him, as a result of how he treated a female student trainer at the University of Tennessee. But he remains Indiana's greatest pro athlete, and it isn't even close.

He made 14 Pro Bowls, 11 of them with the Colts. He won 5 NFL MVP awards, 4 with the Colts. He led the Colts to 8 Division titles, 3 AFC Championship Games, and Super Bowls XLI and XLIV, winning the former and being named the game's MVP.

Indiana is, of course, a basketball State. But, more than any Notre Dame, IU or Purdue figure, he, head coach Tony Dungy, and general manager Bill Polian made it a football State as well. They turned the Colts from a team that still seemed out of place, still seemed as though it belonged in Baltimore, into an Indiana institution. (The fact that the Ravens have since won 2 Super Bowls, and that most Marylanders would have to be over 50 to remember the Baltimore Colts as a Playoff team, helps in that regard.

Manning was named to the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team, and the Colts retired his Number 18 (the 1st such honoree from the Indianapolis years) and inducted him into their Ring of Honor. In 2010, the NFL Network ranked him 8th on their list of the NFL's 100 Greatest Players. He becomes eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame next year.

Living Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as of February 6, 2016

Of the 8 new electees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, 6 are still alive: Kevin Greene, Brett Favre, Orlando Pace, Tony Dungy, Marvin Harrison and Eddie DeBartolo.

Here are the living HOFers, by team. Inductees are listed here with a team if they played, or coached, or were an executive, with them for at least 4 seasons. I have divided moved teams accordingly.
Tenure as a player, or a coach, or an executive is only counted if they were elected as such. 

Ties in the rankings are broken by more players, as opposed to other categories; and then by time in the league. So a team with 4 players is ahead of one with 3 players and 1 coach, and a team with 3 players in 50 years is ahead of one with 3 players in 80 years.

Figures are listed here as follows: Players in chronological order of their Hall of Fame service with the team (even if they had other functions with that team), then coaches, then executives, then broadcasters.

1. Oakland Raiders, 15: Jim Otto, Fred Biletnikoff, Willie Brown, Art Shell, Dave Casper, Ray Guy, Ted Hendricks, Mike Haynes, Howie Long, Marcus Allen, Jerry Rice, Warren Sapp, Tim Brown, John Madden (coach), Ron Wolf (scout).

2. Dallas Cowboys, 14: Bob Lilly, Mel Renfro, Rayfield Wright, Mike Ditka, Roger Staubach, Randy White, Tony Dorsett, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, Larry Allen, Charles Haley, Bill Parcells (coach).

3. Washington Redskins, 13: Bobby Mitchell, Sonny Jurgensen, Charley Taylor, Sam Huff, Paul Krause, Chris Hanburger, Ken Houston, John Riggins, Art Monk, Russ Grimm, Darrell Green, Bruce Smith (last 4 years of his career as a Redskin), Joe Gibbs (coach).

4. Minnesota Vikings, 12: Fran Tarkenton, Carl Eller, Alan Page, Paul Krause, Ron Yary, Mick Tinglehoff, Chris Doleman, Gary Zimmerman, Randall McDaniel, Cris Carter, John Randle, Bud Grant (coach).

5. Pittsburgh Steelers, 12: Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Mel Blount, Rod Woodson, Dermontti Dawson, Jerome Bettis, Dan Rooney (owner).

6. Green Bay Packers, 12: Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg, Paul Hornung, Jim Taylor, Willie Davis, Willie Wood, Herb Adderley, Dave Robinson, James Lofton, Jan Stenerud, Brett Favre, Ron Wolf (executive).


7. San Francisco 49ers, 11: Y.A. Tittle, Hugh McElhenny, Dave Wilcox, Jimmy Johnson, Joe Montana, Fred Dean, Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Charles Haley, Eddie DeBartolo (owner).


8. Kansas City Chiefs, 10: Bobby Bell, Len Dawson, Willie Lanier, Emmitt Thomas, Curley Culp, Jan Stenerud, Marcus Allen, Willie Roaf, Will Shields, Mary Levy (coach).

9. Buffalo Bills, 10: Billy Shaw, O.J. Simpson, Joe DeLamiellure, James Lofton, Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Marv Levy (coach), Bill Polian (executive).

10. Miami Dolphins, 9: Larry Csonka, Nick Buoniconti, Bob Griese, Jim Langer, Larry Little, Paul Warfield, Dan Marino, Dwight Stephenson and Don Shula (coach).

Houston Oilers, 9: Curley Culp, Elvin Bethea, Earl Campbell, Dave Casper, Ken Houston, Charlie Joiner, Warren Moon, Mike Munchak, Bruce Matthews.

11. Chicago Bears, 8: Doug Atkins, Mike Ditka, Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, Alan Page, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, Mike Singletary.

12. New England Patriots, 7: Nick Buoniconti, John Hannah, Mike Haynes, Andre Tippett, Curtis Martin, Bill Parcells (coach) and Don Criqui (broadcaster).

13. New York Giants, 7: Sam Huff, Y.A. Tittle, Fran Tarkenton, Harry Carson, Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan, Bill Parcells (coach).

14. San Diego Chargers, 6: Ron Mix, Lance Alworth, Fred Dean, Dan Fouts, Charlie Joiner, Ron Kellen Winslow.

15. New York Jets, 6: Don Maynard, Joe Namath, John Riggins, Curtis Martin, Bill Parcells (coach-executive), Ron Wolf (executive).

16. Los Angeles Rams, 6: Tom Mack, Jackie Slater, Jack Youngblood, Eric Dickerson, Kevin Greene, Dick Enberg (broadcaster).

17. Cleveland Browns, 6: Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, Leroy Kelly, Paul Warfield, Joe DeLamiellure and Ozzie Newsome.

18. Denver Broncos, 5: Willie Brown, Floyd Little, John Elway, Shannon Sharpe, Gary Zimmerman.

19. Indianapolis Colts, 5: Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Marvin Harrison, Tony Dungy (coach), Bill Polian (executive).

Baltimore Colts, 5: Raymond Berry, Gino Marchetti, Lenny Moore, Ted Hendricks, Don Shula (coach).

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4: Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Tony Dungy (coach), Ron Wolf (executive). 

21. Detroit Lions, 4: Joe Schmidt, Lem Barney, Dick LeBeau, Barry Sanders.

St. Louis Cardinals, 4: Larry Wilson, Dan Dierdorf, Jackie Smith, Roger Wehrli.

22. Seattle Seahawks, 3: Steve Largent, Cortez Kennedy, Walter Jones.

23. Cincinnati Bengals, 3: Charlie Joiner, Anthony Munoz.

24. Philadelphia Eagles, 3: Sonny Jurgensen, Tommy McDonald, Bob Brown.

St. Louis Rams, 3: Orlando Pace, Marshall Faulk, Aeneas Williams. 

25. Baltimore Ravens, 3: Rod Woodson, Jonathan Ogden, Ozzie Newsome (executive).

26. New Orleans Saints, 2: Rickey Jackson, Willie Roaf, Jim Finks.

27. Atlanta Falcons, 2: Deion Sanders, Claude Humphrey.

28. Tennessee Titans, 1: Bruce Matthews.

29. Carolina Panthers, 1: Bill Polian (executive). 

30. Arizona Cardinals, 1: Aeneas Williams. Emmitt Smith wasn’t with them long enough. Kurt Warner was with them for 5 seasons, so he would qualify as a Cardinal if he is elected, and he was a finalist this year.

Chicago Cardinals, 1: Charley Trippi.

31. Houston Texans, none. 

32. Jacksonville Jaguars, none. 

Pro Football Hall-of-Famers By Team, 2016 Edition

Congratulations to the newly-elected members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, whose new members are annually announced on the day before the Super Bowl:

* Dick Stanfel, guard, 1950s Detroit Lions. Won NFL Championships in 1952 and '53.
* Ken Stabler, quarterback, 1970s Oakland Raiders. Won Super Bowl XI in 1977. Selected just days after he died. Stanfel also died within the past year. Can someone explain to me why those two guys were was good enough for election now, but not a year ago, when they were alive and able to enjoy it? Did dying somehow make them better? Way to be classy, PFHOF voters. The other 6 honorees are all still alive.
* Kevin Greene, linebacker, 1980s Los Angeles Rams. Got to the NFC Championship Game with the 1989 Rams and the AFC Championship Game with the 1996 Pittsburgh Steelers, but never reached a Super Bowl.
* Brett Favre, quarterback, 1990s-2000s Green Bay Packers. Won Super Bowl XXXI in 1997. I guess he's finally retired for good this time.
* Orlando Pace, offensive tackle, 1990s-2000s St. Louis Rams. Won Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000.
* Tony Dungy, head coach, 1990s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2000s Indianapolis Colts. Built the team that won Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003, coached the team that won Super Bowl XLI in 2007. Also a player and assistant coach for the 1970s Super Bowl-winning Pittsburgh Steelers.
* Marvin Harrison, receiver, 2000s Indianapolis Colts, under Dungy. Won Super Bowl XLI.
* Eddie DeBartolo, owner, 1980s-90s San Francisco 49ers. Won Super Bowls XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV and XXIX. His 5 Super Bowl wins are the most by a controlling NFL owner, although more NFL Championships were won by George Halas, 8, with the Chicago Bears. While the Green Bay Packers have no single owner (individual or corporation), Curly Lambeau won 6 as the franchise's decision-maker. On a personal note, he and his father, Edward Sr., once owned and operated the Brunswick Square Mall in my hometown of East Brunswick, New Jersey; and Edward Sr. owned the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The finalists who did not make it were the great by mercurial receiver Terrell Owens; Kurt Warner; Harrison's Indianapolis teammate Edgerrin James; John Lynch, who, like Harrison and James, played under Dungy (in his case, in Tampa Bay); 1990s Denver Bronco stars Terrell Davis and Steve Atwater; offensive line greats Joe Jacoby of the 1980s Washington Redskins and Alan Faneca of the 2000s Steelers; placekicking star Morten Andersen; and Don Coryell, who got the Cardinals as close as they ever got to the Super Bowl in St. Louis, and the San Diego Chargers as close as they ever got to the Super Bowl until the 1994 season. Of these, all but Coryell are still alive.

*

Inductees are listed here with a team if they played, or coached, or were an executive, with them for at least 4 seasons.

I have divided moved teams accordingly (i.e., Johnny Unitas never took a snap for the Indianapolis Colts). “Sure future Hall-of-Famers” are not included, because, as we have seen in baseball, there is no such thing anymore. 

Tenure as a player, or a coach, or an executive is only counted if they were elected as such. In other words, Raymond Berry coached the Patriots into a Super Bowl, and Forrest Gregg did so with the Bengals, but they were elected as a Colts player and a Packers player, respectively, so those are the teams with which they're included.

Ties in the rankings are broken by more players, as opposed to other categories; and then by time in the league. So a team with 4 players is ahead of one with 3 players and 1 coach, and a team with 3 players in 50 years is ahead of one with 3 players in 80 years.

Figures are listed here as follows: Players in chronological order of their Hall of Fame service with the team (even if they had other functions with that team), then coaches, then executives, then broadcasters.

1. Chicago Bears, 28: George Halas (founder, owner, general manager, head coach, player), John "Paddy" Driscoll, George Trafton, Ed Healey, William "Link" Lyman, Red Grange, Bill Hewitt, Bronko Nagurski, George Musso, Dan Fortmann, Joe Stydahar, Sid Luckman, George McAfee, Clyde "Bulldog" Turner, George Connor, George Blanda, Bill George, Doug Atkins, Stan Jones, Mike Ditka (player & coach), Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Alan Page, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, Mike Singletary, Jim Finks (executive).

Willie Galimore and Gary Fencik should be in. Brian Urlacher will be eligible in January 2018. probably get in when he becomes eligible. Thomas Jones will be eligible in 2017, and while he didn't spend 4 seasons with any team, his 3 years with the Bears were his most productive period, so I'd list him with them if he got in, and with over 10,000 career rushing yards, he should be in.

2. Green Bay Packers, 26: Earl "Curly" Lambeau (founder, owner, executive, head coach, player), Cal Hubbard, John "Johnny Blood" McNally, Mike Michalske, Arnie Herber, Clarke Hinkle, Don Hutson, Tony Canadeo, Jim Ringo, Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg, Paul Hornung, Jim Taylor, Ray Nitschke, Henry Jordan, Willie Davis, Willie Wood, Herb Adderley, Dave Robinson, James Lofton, Jan Stenerud, Reggie White, Brett Favre, Vince Lombardi (coach & executive), Ron Wolf (executive), Ray Scott (broadcaster, later the main voice on CBS' NFL telecasts).

There are 11 figures from the Lombardi Era, including Lombardi himself, who are enshrined in Canton -- not counting Emlen Tunnell, who played the last 3 seasons of his career with the Packers and retired after the 1st title of the Lombardi Era, 1961. For whatever reason, Jerry Kramer is not in, and he's not getting any younger. Mike Holmgren will be eligible in 2018.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers, 24: Walt Kiesling (also coach), John "Johnny Blood" McNally, Bill Dudley, Ernie Stautner, Jack Butler, John Henry Johnson, Bobby Layne, Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Mike Webster, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Mel Blount, Rod Woodson, Dermontti Dawson, Jerome Bettis, Art Rooney (founder-owner), Dan Rooney (owner), Bert Bell (coach, later NFL Commissioner), Chuck Noll (coach), Myron Cope (broadcaster). 

While the Steelers were rarely competitive for their first 40 seasons, they did have a few players who were Hall-worthy, but note that 15 of the 24 were involved with the club during their 1972-79 dynasty. Hines Ward will be eligible in 2017, and while that touchdown he scored on a kickoff return for the Gotham Rogues as the field collapsed behind him in The Dark Knight Rises does nothing to help his candidacy, if he does get in, you know that highlight will be played over and over again.

4. New York Giants, 21: Steve Owen (elected as a coach, also a pretty good player for Giants), Ray Flaherty, Benny Friedman, Red Badgro, Mel Hein, Ken Strong, Alphonse "Tuffy" Leemans, Emlen Tunnell, Arnie Weinmeister, Frank Gifford, Roosevelt Brown, Sam Huff, Andy Robustelli, Y.A. Tittle, Fran Tarkenton, Harry Carson, Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan, Tim Mara (founder & owner), Wellington Mara (owner), Bill Parcells (coach).

Gifford has also been elected as a broadcaster. So has Pat Summerall, but as a CBS & Fox broadcaster, not as a Giants player or broadcaster, so he can't be included here. Tom Landry was the first great defensive back to be only a defensive back, after the early 1950s shift to two-platoon football, and was the defensive coordinator on the Giants' 1956-63 contenders, but was elected to the Hall based on his coaching for the Cowboys, and thus can't be counted here. 

George Young, the architect of the Giants' 1986 & '90 NFL Champions, has not yet been elected. Nor has Phil Simms, and you can also make a case for Mark Bavaro (tight ends are in short supply in the Hall), George Martin and Leonard Marshall. I wonder if anyone will be willing to vote for Tiki Barber, who is now eligible.

5. Washington Redskins, 20: Cliff Battles, Turk Edwards (also coach), Wayne Millner, Sammy Baugh, Bobby Mitchell, Sonny Jurgensen, Charley Taylor, Sam Huff, Paul Krause, Chris Hanburger, Ken Houston, John Riggins, Art Monk, Russ Grimm, Darrell Green, Bruce Smith (last 4 years of his career as a Redskin), George Preston Marshall (founder & owner), Ray Flaherty (elected as a Giants player but coached 'Skins to 2 NFL titles so I'm counting him as one of theirs), George Allen (coach), Joe Gibbs (coach).

Jurgensen and Huff have also been broadcasters for the team. Grimm is the only one of the "Hogs" yet elected, but Jeff Bostic and Joe Jacoby should also be elected. A case can be made for an earlier Redskin lineman, Len Hauss. And even earlier Redskin lineman, Dick Stanfel, just got in, but he only played 3 season in D.C., so he can't be counted here.

None of the men who have thus far quarterbacked the Redskins into a Super Bowl is in: Not Billy Kilmer, not Joe Theismann, not Doug Williams, not Mark Rypien -- and good cases can be made for all but Rypien. If Jan Stenerud got elected as a kicker (who didn't also play another position, as did Lou Groza and George Blanda), then why not Mark Moseley?

6. Oakland Raiders, 19: Jim Otto, Fred Biletnikoff, George Blanda, Ken Stabler, Gene Upshaw, Willie Brown, Art Shell, Dave Casper, Ray Guy, Ted Hendricks, Mike Haynes, Howie Long, Marcus Allen, Jerry Rice, Warren Sapp, Tim Brown, John Madden (coach), Al Davis (owner-coach), Ron Wolf (scout).

Note that I’m making an exception to my one-city-only rule for the Raiders, treating them as a continuous Oakland franchise, since they did return, even though their Los Angeles edition became a cultural icon (and not for good reasons). Counted separately, the Oakland Raiders have 13, and the Los Angeles Raiders have 3 (Haynes, Long, Allen).

Madden has also been elected as a broadcaster. Rice and Sapp were both there for 4 seasons, so they count. Now that Guy is in, who's the most obvious Raider not in? I'd say Jack Tatum, if anybody's got the guts to elect a great cornerback who needlessly paralyzed a man in a preseason game. Also worthy of consideration are Ben Davidson and Lester Hayes.

7. Dallas Cowboys, 17: Bob Lilly, Mel Renfro, Bob Hayes, Rayfield Wright, Mike Ditka, Roger Staubach, Randy White, Tony Dorsett, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, Larry Allen, Charles Haley, Tom Landry (coach), Bill Parcells (coach), Tex Schramm (executive).

Parcells did coach them for 4 seasons, so that counts. Ditka is so identified with the Bears (with whom he practically invented the position of tight end and won a title in 1963) that people forget he was a Cowboy, and won a Super Bowl each as a player and as one of Landry's assistant coaches -- as did Dan Reeves, although if he ever got elected it would be as a head coach, and therefore not as a Cowboy.

Don Meredith was elected as a broadcaster, but was never a broadcaster specifically for the Cowboys. A case can be made that he deserves election as a player. Drew Pearson, Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters and Herschel Walker also have their advocates.

8. Cleveland Browns, 16: Otto Graham, Marion Motley, Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, Bill Willis, Frank Gatski, Len Ford, Mike McCormack, Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, Gene Hickerson, Leroy Kelly, Paul Warfield, Joe DeLamiellure and Ozzie Newsome, Paul Brown (coach-executive).

It says something about this franchise that there have been no players who have played so much as a down for them since 1990 that can be called a Browns' HOFer -- and only DeLamielleure and Newsome have played for them since 1977. Tom Cousineau hasn't made it, and neither has Clay Matthews Jr. (father of the current star Packer linebacker and brother of Oliers/Titans HOFer Bruce Matthews -- Clay Sr. played for the 49ers in the 1950s, but wasn't HOF quality).

And yet, look at just what they produced in the 1940s and '50s. And that doesn't include players they let get away, like Doug Atkins, Henry Jordan, Willie Davis, Len Dawson, and (while they did both play long enough for the Browns to be counted with them) Mitchell and Warfield. Maybe that's the real reason Art Modell isn't in the Hall: It's not that he moved the original Browns, and screwed the people of Northern Ohio, it's that he was a bad owner. (Though, to be fair, his firing of Paul Brown and installation of Blanton Collier in 1962 did bring the 1964 NFL Championship, Cleveland's last title in any sport.)

9. San Francisco 49ers, 16: Bob St. Clair, Y.A. Tittle, Joe "the Jet" Perry, Leo Nomellini, Hugh McElhenny, John Henry Johnson, Dave Wilcox, Jimmy Johnson, Joe Montana, Fred Dean, Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Charles Haley, Bill Walsh (coach), Eddie DeBartolo (owner).

Tittle, Perry, McElhenny and John Henry Johnson are the only entire backfield that all played together to all be elected to the Hall; although they were only all together for one season, 1954, and the Niners didn't make the Playoffs that season, they were known as the $100,000 Backfield. The Jimmy Johnson listed above was a black cornerback in the 1960s and '70s, and should not be confused with the white coach for the Cowboys -- although this Jimmy Johnson, unlike the coach, was actually born in Dallas.

Rickey Jackson only played 2 seasons for the Niners, but he did win his only ring with them. Deion Sanders played only 1 season for them, but got the same ring that Jackson did. So, due to insufficient longevity, I can't cont either of them as 49ers HOFers.

From their 1980s champions, Dwight Clark, Roger Craig, Randy Cross, Guy McIntyre, Harris Barton and Ken Norton Jr. have not been elected, but all are worth consideration, and Craig absolutely should be in. Terrell Owens is now eligible, and it will be interesting to see how long it takes him to get in; judged solely on performance, not personality, he definitely should be in.

10. Kansas City Chiefs, 15: Bobby Bell, Len Dawson, Willie Lanier, Buck Buchanan, Emmitt Thomas, Curley Culp, Jan Stenerud, Derrick Thomas, Marcus Allen, Willie Roaf, Will Shields, Hank Stram (coach), Mary Levy (coach), Lamar Hunt (founder-owner), Charlie Jones (broadcaster, did Dallas Texans/K.C. Chiefs games before becoming the main voice for NBC's AFL and then AFC broadcasts).

Dawson has also been elected as a broadcaster. Tony Gonzalez, who would also qualify as a Falcon,
will be eligible in 2020.

11. Los Angeles Rams, 15: Bob Waterfield, Tom Fears, Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch, Norm Van Brocklin, Les Richter, Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Tom Mack, Jackie Slater, Jack Youngblood, Eric Dickerson, Kevin Greene, George Allen (coach), Dan Reeves (owner, not to be confused with the Denver/Atlanta coach), Dick Enberg (broadcaster).

Joe Stydahar coached the Rams to their only NFL Championship in Los Angeles, 1951, but was elected as a player, not a coach, and so can't be counted as a Rams' Hall-of-Famer. Counting their St. Louis years, the Rams franchise has 16. Now that Greene is in, Henry Ellard is the most deserving
former L.A. Ram not yet in the Hall, but he's a borderline case at best.

12. Detroit Lions, 14: Dutch Clark (also coach), Jack Christiansen, Bobby Layne, Doak Walker, Yale Lary, Alex Wojciechowicz, Lou Creekmur, Dick Stanfel, Dick "Night Train" Lane, Joe Schmidt (also coach), Lem Barney, Dick LeBeau, Charlie Sanders and Barry Sanders (no relation to each other).

Although he played for their 1935 NFL Champions and coached them to the 1952 and '53 titles, Buddy Parker is not in the Hall. Nor is Alex Karras, who died without having been elected; if Paul Hornung, a man whose morals were a lot looser than Karras', could be forgiven for his gambling charge that led to his suspension for the 1963 season and get elected, why not his fellow suspendee Karras?

It says something about this franchise that there has been only 1 player (Barry Sanders) who has played so much as a down for them since 1977 that can be called a Lions' HOFer, although cases can be made for Herman Moore, Lomas Brown and Chris Spielman.

13. Minnesota Vikings, 13: Fran Tarkenton, Carl Eller, Alan Page, Paul Krause, Ron Yary, Mick Tinglehoff, Chris Doleman, Gary Zimmerman, Randall McDaniel, Cris Carter, John Randle, Bud Grant (coach), Jim Finks (executive). Warren Moon was only there for 3 seasons. Randy Moss, if anybody has the guts to put aside personality and vote for him, will be eligible in 2018.

14. Philadelphia Eagles, 12: Steve Van Buren, Alex Wojciechowicz, Pete Pihos, Chuck Bednarik, Sonny Jurgensen, Tommy McDonald, Norm Van Brocklin, Bob Brown, Jim Ringo, Reggie White, Greasy Neale (coach), Bert Bell (founder-owner-coach, later NFL Commissioner).

Van Brocklin only played 3 seasons for the Eagles, but he was the quarterback on their last NFL Championship team, 1960, and then he retired, despite being only 34 years old, so I'm bending the rule to count him. On the other hand, Claude Humphrey played 3 seasons for them, one being their first trip to the Super Bowl, but unlike Van Brocklin is not an Eagles icon, so I can only include him with the Falcons.

It says something about this franchise that there has been only one player (Reggie White) who has played so much as a down for them since 1968 that can be called an Eagles' HOFer -- although Art Monk, James Lofton and Richard Dent briefly played for the team, and cases could be made for Stan Walters, Jerry Sisemore, Bill Bergey, Randall Cunningham, Clyde Simmons and Seth Joyner. Ron Jaworski, however, only stands to be elected as a media personality, not a player.

Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens are not yet eligible, and T.O. would go in only as a 49er anyway. Irv Cross was elected as a media personality, but, while he made 2 Pro Bowls as an Eagle cornerback, he is not in the Hall as a player.

15. Buffalo Bills, 12: Billy Shaw, O.J. Simpson (had to list him), Joe DeLamiellure, James Lofton, Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Marv Levy (coach), Ralph Wilson (owner), Bill Polian (executive) and Van Miller (broadcaster).

Shaw played his entire career in the AFL, making him the only man in the Pro Football Hall of Fame who never played a down in the NFL. (Remember, it's not the National Football League Hall of Fame, it's the Pro Football Hall of Fame.) So much fuss was made over the special-teams skills of Steve Tasker that I'm surprised that he's not in.

Houston Oilers, 10: George Blanda, Curley Culp, Elvin Bethea, Earl Campbell, Dave Casper, Ken Houston, Charlie Joiner, Warren Moon, Mike Munchak, Bruce Matthews. Since Matthews counts as both an Oiler and a Titan, if we combine the Houston years and the Tennessee years, their total of 10 does not rise.

Baltimore Colts, 10: Art Donovan, Raymond Berry, Gino Marchetti, Johnny Unitas, Lenny Moore, Jim Parker, John Mackey, Ted Hendricks, Weeb Ewbank (coach), Don Shula (coach). Counting their Indianapolis years, the Colts have 14.

16. Miami Dolphins, 9: Larry Csonka, Nick Buoniconti, Bob Griese, Jim Langer, Larry Little, Paul Warfield, Dan Marino, Dwight Stephenson and Don Shula (coach).

In spite of everything that happened in his career, Ricky Williams rushed for over 10,000 yards. He becomes eligible next year, but I doubt he'll ever get in. If he does, he would qualify only as a Dolphin, not as a Saint.

Chicago Cardinals, 9: Jimmy Conzelman, Paddy Driscoll, Guy Chamberlin, Ernie Nevers, Walt Kiesling, Charley Trippi, Ollie Matson, Dick "Night Train" Lane, Charles Bidwill (owner). Conzelman, Driscoll and Kiesling were also head coaches for the Cards. Counting all their cities, despite having been around for nearly a century, the Cards have only 14 Hall-of-Famers.

17. San Diego Chargers, 8: Ron Mix, Lance Alworth, Fred Dean, Dan Fouts, Charlie Joiner, Ron Kellen Winslow, Junior Seau, Sid Gillman (coach). LaDainian Tomlinson becomes eligible next year.

18. New England Patriots, 8: Nick Buoniconti, John Hannah, Mike Haynes, Andre Tippett, Curtis Martin, Junior Seau, Bill Parcells (coach) and Don Criqui (broadcaster). This counts players from their AFL days, when they were officially the Boston Patriots. Drew Bledsoe is eligible, but not yet in.

Cases could also be made for Jim Nance, Jim Hunt, Steve Nelson, Julius Adams and Irving Fryar. Seau becomes the 1st player of the Bill Belichick Super Bowl teams to get in. Tedy Bruschi is now eligible, and is in the College Football Hall of Fame.

19. New York Jets, 7: Don Maynard, Joe Namath, John Riggins, Curtis Martin, Weeb Ewbank (coach), Bill Parcells (coach-executive), Ron Wolf (executive). Although the Big Tuna only coached the Jets for 3 seasons, he was an executive with them for 4 seasons, and thus meets my qualification for a Jet HOFer. Wesley Walker, Joe Klecko and Marty Lyons should be considered, although nobody seems to be willing to vote for Mark Gastineau. Vinny Testaverde is eligible, but not yet in. (He would also qualify as a Buccaneer.)

Canton Bulldogs, 6: Jim Thorpe, Guy Chamberlin, Joe Guyon, Pete Henry, William "Link" Lyman, Earl "Greasy" Neale.

20. Denver Broncos, 5: Willie Brown, Floyd Little, John Elway, Shannon Sharpe, Gary Zimmerman. Longtime owner Pat Bowlen and 3-time AFC Champion coach Dan Reeves have never been elected, but should be. So should Randy Gradishar, Steve Atwater and Mark Schlereth, although, because of how many feathers he ruffled, I don't think you'll ever see Bill Romanowski get in. Peyton Manning, of course, is still active, at least for 1 more day.

21. Indianapolis Colts, 5: Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Marvin Harrison, Tony Dungy (coach), Bill Polian (executive). Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James are now eligible. Peyton Manning, of course, is still active, at least for 1 more day.

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 5: Lee Roy Selmon, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Tony Dungy (coach), Ron Wolf (executive). John Lynch is now eligible, and should be in, and would also qualify as a Bronco. Warrick Dunn is now eligible, and should be in, and would also qualify as a Falcon.

St. Louis Cardinals, 4: Larry Wilson, Dan Dierdorf, Jackie Smith, Roger Wehrli. Dierdorf has also been elected as a broadcaster, although not specifically with the Cardinals. Ottis Anderson should be elected as a Cardinal, although he achieved his greatest moment as a Giant.

23. Baltimore Ravens, 3: Rod Woodson, Jonathan Ogden, Ozzie Newsome (executive). Newsome was elected as a Cleveland Browns player, but has been a masterful executive for the franchise since the move, so I'm bending the rules to include him as a Brown and a Raven. Ray Lewis is eligible in 2018. Jamal Lewis is eligible, but isn't yet in.

24. Seattle Seahawks, 3: Steve Largent, Cortez Kennedy, Walter Jones. Rickey Watters is eligible, and while he only played 3 seasons each with the 49ers and Eagles, he played 4 with the Hawks, so if he goes in, he would qualify only for them.

Duluth Eskimos, 3: Walt Kiesling, John "Johnny Blood" McNally, Ernie Nevers.

25. Cincinnati Bengals, 3: Charlie Joiner, Anthony Munoz, Paul Brown (founder-owner-coach). Reggie Williams and Corey Dillon should be in, but Boomer Esiason is a borderline case. Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson hasn't played in an NFL game since 2011, but has played the last 2 seasons with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, so I don't know what the ruling is on when his eligibility begins. Whenever it does, he's both a borderline Hall of Fame case and a borderline mental case.

26. New Orleans Saints, 3: Rickey Jackson, Willie Roaf, Jim Finks (executive). Mike Ditka was Saints coach for 3 seasons and Tom Fears for 4, but neither was elected as a coach, so they can't be included here anyway. Same for Hank Stram, who was elected as a coach, but only coached the Saints for 2 seasons. Morten Andersen should also be elected. Ken Stabler did play for the Saints, but not for long enough.

Frankford Yellow Jackets, 2: Guy Chamberlin, William "Link" Lyman. The 1926 NFL Champions should also have Russell "Bull" Behman and Henry "Two-Bits" Homan -- the former a big guy by the standards of the time, and the latter a little guy who was the NFL's answer to Wee Willie Keeler -- in the Hall.  But both died in the early 1950s, so neither was able to speak on his own behalf since the 1962 founding of NFL Films. Although the Eagles replaced the Jackets as Philadelphia's NFL team, the two teams are not the same franchise.

Providence Steam Roller, 2: Jimmy Conzelman (player & coach), Frederick "Fritz" Pollard.

St. Louis Rams, 3: Orlando Pace, Marshall Faulk, Aeneas Williams. Dick Vermeil, Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt are eligible. Note that the St. Louis edition of the Rams is now italicized as a former team; unlike the Raiders, it doesn't really make sense to fold the St. Louis era in with Los Angeles.

27. Atlanta Falcons, 2: Deion Sanders, Claude Humphrey. Tony Gonzalez will probably be a first-ballot inductee in 2020. Michael Vick is still active, and I wonder if anyone will vote for him when he becomes eligible.

Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL 1930-1948), 2: Clarence “Ace” Parker, Frank "Bruiser" Kinard.

28. Tennessee Titans, 1: Bruce Matthews.  He only played 3 years as a “Tennessee Titan,” but counting 2 as a “Tennessee Oiler,” he qualifies for the Titans. Eddie George is eligible, and should be in.

29. Carolina Panthers, 1: Bill Polian (executive). Mike McCormack was an executive with them, but that’s as close as they come. Reggie White, who played for them in 2000 and died in 2004, is their only former player thus far inducted. Perhaps the late Sam Mills might end up being their first elected HOFer, or maybe Steve Smith. Kevin Greene only played 3 seasons for them, so he doesn't count. Cam Newton, of course, is still active.

30. Arizona Cardinals, 1: Aeneas Williams. Emmitt Smith wasn’t with them long enough. Kurt Warner was with them for 5 seasons, so he would qualify as a Cardinal if he is elected, and he was a finalist this year.

31. Houston Texans, none. Not surprising, as they are the newest franchise. While the Texans made the Playoffs in the 2011, '12 and '15 seasons, it's not yet clear who their first HOFer would be.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars, none: Also one of the 4 newest franchises. The former Jag most likely to be their first HOFer is Fred Taylor, although it could also be Tony Boselli or Jimmy Smith.